When pricing jobs in general construction, it's essential to break down your costs into labor, materials, and margins. On average, labor rates for general contractors range from $50 to $200 per hour, depending on the project's complexity and your expertise level. You'll want to ensure your labor costs are covered, and a good rule of thumb is to charge three times your actual labor costs when providing estimates.
In addition to labor, you should always factor in materials and a markup to cover overhead and profit. Industry standards suggest a 10% overhead and 10% profit margin. Some contractors use a markup of 15-20% on the overall job cost to ensure they remain competitive while still covering their business expenses.
